Reversible drive mechanism



June 3, 1952 G. w. .loHANsEN ETAL 2,599,058

REVERSIBLE DRIVE MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ngz Filed Aug. 2. 1949 Sme/wm:

,Gordon ZU. Johansen weZfordE Copley mimi;

ATTORNEYS June 3, 1952 G. w. JoHANsEN ETAL 2,599,058

REVERSIBLE DRIVE MEcHANIsM 3 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 2. 1949 gmc/Mom Gordon ZU. Johansen ZDeZfora EZ Copley ATTORNEYS June 3, 1952 G. w. JoHANsEN ETAL 2,599,058

REVERSIBLE DRIVE .MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Shea?I 3 Filed Aug. 2. 1949 gjm/umm Gordan ZIJ. Johansen weZfora'E'. Copley ATTORN EYS Patented June 3, 1952 REVERSIBLE DRIVE MECHAN ISM Gordon W. Johansen and Welford E. Copley, Modesto, Calif.; said Copley assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, of one-tenth to Joseph J. Lebeda and four-tenths to Wayne A. Yocom, both of Atwater, Calif.

Application August 2, 1949, Serial No. 108,168

This invention is directed to, and it is'an object to'provide, a reversible drive mechanism of novel construction andl operation adapted for use between a prime mover, such as a tractor engine, and opposed driven rotary members, such as the wheels of a tractor.

While the present invention is especially designed as the power transmitting mechanism between the engine and wheels of a small type agricultural tractor, the invention obviously may be effectively adapted to many other uses.

A separate object of the present invention is to provide a reversible drive mechanism whichvis arranged for simple and easy control to accomplish reversible drive, or the setting to neutral of the opposed'driven rotary members, selectively and independently. y

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reversible drive mechanism, for the purpose' described, which includes reversing clutch units of novel construction; each such clutch unit comprising `reversibly driven inner and outer drums, and a rotary shoe assembly between said drums adapted to be frictionally engagedl with either thereof, selectively, whereby said shoe assembly is reversibly driven; there being driving connections between each shoe as# sembly and the corresponding, driven rotaryf member.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a reversible drive'mechanism, as in the preceding paragraph, including novel driving connections between a drive shaft and each of the reversing clutch units.

An additional object ofthe invention is to provide' a reversible drive mechanism which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture;

the mechanism being relatively simple in structure, positive in operation, and requiring a mininum of maintenance or repair.

:A rstill'further object'of the invention is to t provide a practical and-reliable reversible drive mechanism, and one which willvbe exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts.-

and sectional in part, of the reversible drive mechanism.

Figi'Z is an enlarged section on line 2-.2'of

Fig. 1 showing thevexternal parts ofone ,of the 5 Claims. (Cl. 74-665) reversing clutch units; such parts being' in the positions occupied thereby for forward drive.-

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-4-3 of Fig. 1 showing the internal parts of said one reversing clutch unit; such parts being in the positions occupied vthereby for forward drive.'V

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but shows the parts in the positions occupied thereby for reverse drive.

Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 3, but shows the parts in the positions occupied thereby for reverse drive.

Referring now more particularly to the charactersof reference on the drawings, the reversible drive mechanism comprises an input or drive shaft I actuated from the engine (not show mi such drive shaft I projecting into acase 2.

Within the case 2 thev drive shaft Iv is fitted with a bevel pinion 3 which runs in meshbetween opposed bevel gears, indicated at 4 and 5, which surround a cross shaftv 6 journaled in said case and projecting to end terminations beyond op posite sides of said case. p 'l The bevel gear 4 is keyed, as at 1, to the cross shaft 6, whereas the bevel gear 5 is freely turnable on said cross shaft.

Axially outwardly of the bevel gears 4 and 5 the cross shaft 6 is surrounded, in freely turnable relation, by drive sleeves 8 and `9. The drive sleeve 8 is connected in direct driven relation to the bevel gear 5 whereby said drive sleeve 8 is rotated in the same direction as the bevel gear 5, and as shown by the arrow in Fig. 1. l,

The drive sleeve!) is rotated in the same direction as the drive sleeve 8 as follows:

A transfer shaft l0 is journaled in the case 2 in spaced relation from but parallel to the cross shaft 6; such transfer shaft I0 being driven by an endless chain and sprocket unit Il from the bevel gear 5. f

Another endless chain and sprocketunit4 YI2 connects between the transfer shaft I0 and the drive sleeve 9, with the result that the latter is rotated from the bevel gear 5 in the same direction. The drive sleeves 8 and 9 project out of the corresponding sides of the case 2, but terminate short of the corresponding ends of the cross shaft 6.

With the driving mechanism above desclibed, the drive sleeves' and 9 rotate infone direction, while the cross shaft 6 simultaneously rotatesin an opposite direction. i

Laterally out from each side of the easel-the mechanism includes a reversing clutch;gnit1a.

alined but spaced relation to the corresponding end of the cross shaft 6.

When the mechanism is embodied in a vehicle, such asa ,smallffaerieilltural tractor, eaoh ,shaft I4 is tirez-axle lyvhichfcarries one ofthe wheels Y|15 of said vehicle.

As each of the reversing clutch units I3 is idenscription of one will suffice for both.

Each reversing clutch unit 41,3 comprises fan` erm.

outer clutch drum I6 andan-innercl i I1 of differential diameters ..snch clutch@ ums I6 and I1 being mountedLineoncentric-relatin whereby a substantial spacing exists between the peripheries thereof. The outerelutch L6 xed to the adjacent end of the corresponding drive sleeve` 8 or 9, while the inner clutch -dri1m I1 is keyed to the adjacent end of the cross shaft Gense..teaeletlr;l :the ffl-rolas vlli and rtl are staatly elrleel fleet iaaeverse :er-.onoesee osseo- .e so. ry-lolateh, shoe assemble, mol-ioateol eea- -eeallaat yoiseosseo-loettteenttes outetelutole delle to and -i y .atom ll; sushi-assembl L.analf-offsubstantially 4h,.alf-oiliole telas Y cluding an outer face and an inner faez-I with .triatlon ,liaise 22, and sespeotlvela ,est een@ the /olutoll shoes lll are .ooaneotetl to an anchor pin 24, and at the opp osite. ,endsaid ,are eoeoeeteo los aoteatltle leakage '25 sotaeY-eontroloioae whosefsof eetloil or the other yis vadapte,e -oPf-eoatraotoa. fresoeotivelef rfshee assembly llt .et abear'ine .zeenlthe .driving aise .21. AJ: uteremlftherotary.oontrol'piil:2.6 .is

cnnctedx Qnendgf exterior control linkage oll11e.reeolils,- oivotetlto the. driving -diso 21' asatlf Y Y 'on .serale 3.2, .ooaneoted loste/eete lthe and the eootrollinkaee all non ets oafsaflfl llolsage to, rotate the oor-,ltrol aoireetiori .whioh causes exoaaerel of t e ro ary clutch shoe assembly I8 intofrictign essaies-relation with theouter olotohoru'm It tlelyfsalsl `shoe assembly 1.otates wlthsooh ientheshoeassembly grips and is rotating with the outer drum, the drive is preferably for: @reseller-etereo drive results from the shoe blt-etienne allo. Vrotating with .the inner l um M'doh shift the control linkage 30 to an intera .me late os--neiltral .position between-the drums L. v j fer-@taoontract s aclshoe assembly'into stripping. .relatan-with vthe inner. @hitch vdrum. H to rotate with the latter, the -following arranger meats-eresie@ t f Ahiftingfork amounted Hon a :fixed .pi-vot arxoontrol sie. 2B is elongated. :and prqif v 65 olutoh unit.. frrfleans ooarleetioe the-saoe-a 34, works through a thrustI bearing 35 to actuate a shifting sleeve 36 on the shaft or axle I4; the

shifting fork 33 including a control lever 31.

The shifting sleeve 36 cooperates with, a fork 5 38 adapted to be shifted back and forth by the sleeve ,3.5; sai/,d fork 3By inolliflne .afork arm 39 fixed on one endof a stabsleaft 4.9 .fwllioh projects through a bearing 4I externally on the driving disc 21. At the end opposite the fork arm 39 the tical, except for being left and righthand. a ie-Y 0 V.shaft 4I)4 iswtted with a lever arm 42, and an adjustable control rod 43 is connected by ball and .sgketdiinitsland 4,5 between the lever arm 42 d trpl linkage 0.

l ththe above arrangement the linkage 30 is ,1.5 positively -and effectively controlled from the lever L31 so that the rotary clutch shoe assembly L3, U.&;Yb,e;allow ed to expand to grip the outer clutch drum I6, contracted to grip the inner clutch v-clrum I1, or set in a neutral position in 20 non-gripping relation tp both of said drums.

by predetermined nettement ef the ,ooattol .levers 31 a positive andfefteetive tort/.atei `or Yreverse. may :loe Mtted Vto .t ne

Fol forward or revetsefili. 11S ortneutraloset.- ties-of the olutohunits i3, th some1 levers `31 are aetllated silt-loltarleonsly ley ,suitable operar `tot .ootlttolled oonneetioasmotsho 11) Inaoldtoa by aetuating the ntrol-leversel seleotlvelyanol independently,=ftheol11tohunitsi may bev employed -to steer the `vehicle::this-:lansing aooemplsllel :by differential emite ytoot-lie ZJwlflteels 5.

From the foregoing .Clesoriptian twill/be reeel: ,lyseetl ftloat there has been peodeeee stell-a elevice as substantially fulfills theobjectsf-offthe invention asset forth herein.

While this vspeciiflcation.,sei-,s@Bartl-,1 in .detail `the +19 presentano Prefer-red -eoostreotionY-of-the device,

still il; -praotioe Y.sueh devat' ris .therefrom may beresorted'to vdo notfordma departureffmm the spirit voftheinrentioaas dened byatneiapf pended claims.

45 'desribed .the invent/mn, 'the 'golf lowing yis claimed as Y new fanauseful, and v.einen whiohLetters Patentaredesireor 1. A reversible `drive mechanism comprisinga pair of spaced, axially alined reversing clutch units each of which includes Y an :inner l and v-an outer drum in spacedcencentric :relation-across shaft extending between the clutch units .conf nected Vin driving relation to the-innerdrums, sleeves turnable on the .cross shaft :adjacent and connacted in drivingrelationto theouter drums, means yoperative to simultaneously drivethe -sleeves andv shaft with the latter :ro:- tating a vdirection opposite to the. direc..- ticn Vof *rotation of the sleeves, .a `rotar-yl shoe assembly disposed fbetween-thegdrums of each clutchrunit to expand or contract AWherebyl to grip and folate With the olltet .drum -ornnerdram. respectively, of sald unit, a separate sigari-prog jecting axially VA0mm-ard from .adjacent ,each

' w i i ,A m- .bllesin driving relatloato .eorespooding ooesof .the separate shafts, and noeans-L Qperatireltofaqse expansion or contraction, ,selectitelmof saidshoe assemblies. v I' 2- .Asevelsilole o rve. meoliaelste .Comprisinga Pelli' 0f' .spetfdl 'elllally alined reversing clutch units each of which includes an inner and n outer tlrum in spasso oolioeotrlorelato..

'shaft extending between Athe clutch unitsfcon:V .75 nected in driver-"ng .relation to the nlf'dr-uis.-

sleeves turnable on the cross shaft adjacent and connected in driving relation to the outer drums, means operative to simultaneously drive the sleeves and shaft with the latter rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the sleeves, a rotary shoe assembly disposed `between the drums of each clutch unit to expand or contract whereby to grip and rotate with the outer drum or inner drum, respectively, of said unit, a separate shaft projecting axially outward from adjacent each clutch unit, means connecting the shoe assemblies in driving relation to corresponding ones of the separate shafts, and means operative to cause expansion or contraction, selectively, ofv said shoe assemblies; said drive means comprising a pair of gears on the cross shaft between the sleeves, one gear being fixed to the cross shaft and the other being turnable thereon, a drive pinion in mesh between said gears, said other gear being xed to the adjacent sleeve, and connections between said other gear and the opposite sleeve operative to rotate the latter in the same direction as said adjacent sleeve.

3. A reversible drive mechanism comprising` a pair of spaced, axially alined reversing clutch units each of which includes an inner and an outer drum in spaced concentric relation, a cross shaft extending between the clutch units connected in driving relation to the inner drums, sleeves turnable on the cross shaft adjacent and connected in driving relation to the outer drums, means operative to simultaneously drive the sleeves and shaft with the latter rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the sleeves, a rotary shoe assembly disposed between the drums of each clutch unit to expand or contract whereby to grip and rotate with the outer drum or inner drum, respectively, of said unit, a separate shaft projecting axially outward from ladjacent each clutch unit, means connecting the shoe assemblies in driving relation to corresponding ones of the separate shafts, and means operative to cause expansion or contraction, selectively, of said shoe assemblies; said drive means comprising a pair of gears on the cross shaft between the sleeves, one gear being fixed to the cross shaft and the other being turnable thereon, a drive pinion in mesh between said gears, said other gear being fixed to the adjacent sleeve, a transfer shaft parallel to the cross shaft, and driving connections between said sleeves vand the transfer shaft arranged to cause simultaneous rotation of said sleeves in the same direction.

4. A reversible drive mechanism, as in claim 3, 1n which said driving connections are endless chain and sprocket units.

5. A reversible drive mechanism comprising a pair of spaced, axially alined reversing clutch units each of which includes a pair of spaced rotary clutch members, a cross shaft extending between the clutch units connecting in driving relation with one of the said rotary clutch members, sleeves turnable on the cross shaft connected in driving relation with the other of the rotary clutch members of said clutch units, means operative to simultaneously drive the cross shaft and sleeves in opposite rotary directions, la third rotary clutch member mounted intermediate each pair of rotary clutch members for movement into driven engagement with either thereof, a separate shaft projecting axially outward from adjacent each 'clutch unit, means coupling the third rotary clutch member of each clutch unit in driving connection with the correspending separate shaft, and means operative to move the third rotary clutch member of each unit into engagement with either one of the corresponding pair of rotary clutch members, selectively; said drive means comprising a pair of gears on the cross shaft between the sleeves, one gear being fixed to the cross shaft and the other being turnable thereon, a drive pinion in mesh between said gears, said other gear ,being fixed to the adjacent sleeve, a transfer shaft parallel to the cross shaft, and driving connections between said sleeves and the transfer shaft arranged to cause simultaneous rotation of said sleeves in the same direction. y

GORDON W. JOHANSEN. WELFORD E. COPLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 443,259 Pedersen Dec. 23, 1890 687,474 Broberg Nov. 26, 1901 751,022 Sonanoler Feb. 2, 1904 856,763 Brooks June l1, 1907 1,341,162 Armistead May 5, 1920 1,358,997 Springer Nov. 16, 1920 1,751,645 Nieman Mar. 25, 1930 2,187,967 Fawick Jan. 23, 1940 2,228,622 Emrick Jan. 14, 1941 2,385,734 Silva Sept. 25, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 581,534 Great Britain Oct. 16, 1946 

